The Game of 'IT" ( Tag)

Now here's a game I bet everyone played when they were young-

TAG or as we called it IT. You will remember the game was played in recess or after school where a group of kids got together , one was chosen as “it” and then chased the other kids . When one was touched or tagged they became “it'. 

This is one of those games that has many forms. Sometimes it's teams trying to tag others, think of tag football .Sometimes it has a variety of rules - area to run in, safe areas or whatever new rules an enterprising kid could come up with. Sometimes it was played in a nasty way when a kid would be victimized by the group and would never be able to catch anyone . Sometimes it would get really rough but usually I remember it was all good fun and really gave everyone a lot of exercise.It got rid of a lot of pent up activity and made us ready to go inside and start doing our school work again.

I also bet when you think back you will remember the counting rhymes or dips that chose the beginning “it”. 

Remember “Eenie, meenie, miney, Mo, etc” or 

'One potato , two potato, three potato four” or

'Dip dip dip

My little ship

Sails on the water

Like a cup and saucer,

You are IT.'

I read that these days tag has been outlawed in many schools as being too dangerous with kids and even adults being knocked over or bullied. That seems a shame as I am sure those instances could be remedied with a little overseeing by the supervising adults.

I also read  this and   found it very interesting.  A group of high school seniors  started playing tag over 20 years ago and that game still continues to this day with each boy , now grown men in fairly influential positions, trying not to be tagged.

The fun goes on.

If you want to read about it in more detail go here.

http://mynorthwest.com/76/2191035/Twodecade-game-of-tag-keeps-group-of-friends-together